Convertible pencil



Sept. 26, 1939. F C, FOLEY 2,174,440

CONVERTIBLE PENCIL Filed July l2, 1939 @Zyl l illllllll dg-vlill/ .MEN'TOR ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 26, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONVERTIBLE PENCIL Application July 12, 1939, Serial No. 284,051

6 Claims.

This invention relates lto convertible pencils and its general object is to provide a pencil device that can be used either as a pencil, a ruler, a compass or. a square, andthe device can be 5 converted for use accordingly, in an easy and expeditious manner.

A further object is to provide a convertible pencil device, that is made up of a plurality of hollow sections, detachably connected together l in end to end relation and each section having pointed marking means frictionally iitting within the same, for disposal of the pointed portion thereof outwardly of one end of its section, and the marking means of each section being of a l different color, with the result it will be seen that any one of the sections can be arranged at the end of the device for disposing the marking means thereof in use. l

' A further object is to provide a device of the character set forth that includes end to end detachably connected pencil sections provided with graduations throughout the length thereof, so that the device can act in the capacity of a ruler and certain of the sections have slots therein, for ttingly receiving other sections for disposal at right angles thereto, so that the device can act in the capacity of a compass or a square.

Another object is to provide a convertible pencil device that is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and extremely efficient in use and service.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail, reference i will be had to the accompanying drawing wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my device assembled for use as a pencil or a ruler. -15 Figure 2 is a top plan view of Figure l.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken approximately on line 3-3 vof Figure 1,looking in the direction of the arrows.

-Figure 4 is a perspective view of one of the slotted sections, with the marking means thereof removed.

Figure 5 is a view illustrating my device assembled for use asa compass.

Figure 6 is a View, illustrating the device assembled for use as a square.

Referring to the drawing in detail, it will be noted that my device is made up of a plurality of hollow lelongated sections I which are not only rectangular in outline, but are likewise rectangular in cross section, and each section in- 5 cludes a body having secured therein and extending from one end thereof a sleeve 2 of the same shape as its body, but of a size to fit within the same, so as to provide an abutting shoulder at the juncture of the sleeve with its body, as best l0 shown in Figure 4.

Mounted in the sleeves of each of the sections` and shaped for frictionally fitting the same is a marking element 4 which may be'a pencil, stick of crayon,v chalk or the like, but in any event 16 is provided with a pointed end portion extending outwardly from the sleeve, as best shown in Figure 3. Each of 'the marking elements is preferably of a diiferent color, and it will be obvious that when the sections are assembled in end to 20 end relation, the ends of the sections opposed to the sleeves have`the sleeves of adjacent sections frictionally mounted therein, with each section disposed in abutting relation with the shoulder 3 of the adjacent section, as clearly shown in 25 Figure 3, with the result it will be-seen thatl any one of the sections can be arranged at the end of the assembled sections for the disposal of the writing element of the desired color in use.

The body of each section is provided with 30 graduation marks 5 arranged so that the graduation marks of all the sections cooperate when 'the sections are assembled in end to end relation, for the purpose of providing a ruler as will be apparent. The `graduation marks are sho-wn 36 on one face of the bodies of the sections, but

they may be disposed on the other faces thereof. The body of one of the sections is provided with slots 6 disposed in registration with each other and arranged in the wide walls thereof, 40

while the body of another section has registering slots 'I arranged in the narrow walls thereof. The

slotted sections are provided for the purpose of converting the device into a compass as shown in Figure 5, or a square as shown in Figure 6, 45

and when converting the device into a compass the section having the slots 6 therein is mounted on one end section of certain sections arranged in end to end relation, while the section having A the slots in the narrow walls thereof is arranged 50 on the sleeve of the other end section, the slots being of a size to frictionally t the receiving sections for the slotted sections, so that the latter sections lwill be fixed and arranged at right angles with respect to the remaining-sections.

When converting the device into a square, either of the slotted sections can be used, but it is preferred that the section having the slots 1 therein be mounted on the sleeve of the end section, as shown in Figure 6, for the disposal of several sections in end to end relation at right angles to other sections arranged accordingly.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of the invention will be readily apparent.

It is to be understood that changes may be made in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several partspro vided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

l What I claim is:

1. A convertible pencil comprising a plurality of hollow sections, marking means for each section and frictionally mounted therein for disposal through one end thereof, and means for detachably securing the sections together.

2. A convertible pencil comprising a plurality of sections, each section including a hollow body, a sleeve secured within the body and extending from one end thereof, a marking element for each section and secured in the sleeve thereof to extend outwardly therefrom, and the sleeves being adapted to frictionally fit within opposite ends of adjacent sections for detachably securing the sections together.

3. A convertible pencil comprising a plurality of sections, each section including a hollow body, a sleeve secured within the body and extending from one end thereof to provide a shoulder at the juncture of the sleeve with its body, a marking element for each section and secured within the sleeve thereof to extend outwardly therefrom, and the sleeves being adapted to frictionally fit within the opposite ends of adjacent sections for abutting engagement of said opposite ends with outwardly therefrom, the marking elements'having pointed outer ends and each being of a different color, the sleeves adapted to frictionally fit within the opposite ends of adjacent sections for detachably securing the sections together in end to end relation, and the bodies having graduation marks thereon. v

5. A convertible pencil comprising' a plurality of sections, each section including a hollow rectangular shaped body, a sleeve secured within the body and extending from one end.` thereof, a marking element for each section and secured in the sleeve thereof to extend outwardly therefrom, the marking elements having pointed outer ends, the sleeves adapted to frictionally fit within the opposite ends of adjacent sections for' detachably securing the sections together in end to end relation, and certain sections having slots therein for frictionally receiving certain of the other sections for detachably securing the slotted sections at right angles to said other sections.

6. A convertible pencil comprising a plurality of hollow sections, marking means for each section and frictionally mounted therein for disposal through one end thereof, said marking means having pointed outer ends, means for detachably securing certain of the sections in end to end relation and other sections having slots therein for frictionally fitting any one of said certain sections for detachably securing the slotted sections at right angles thereto.

FRED C. FOLEY. 

